DEI Institutionalization: Measuring Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Postsecondary Education

In ShortThe Council for Higher Education Accreditation recently announced new standards that include assessing and addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in higher education.Institutionalization of DEI initiatives in postsecondary education is important to creating an equitable environment for all students.A DEI assessment was developed that is unique in addressing DEI at the institution level rather than aggregating individual-level data to describe the institution with strong reliability and validity evidence.Focus groups indicated that the assessment provided a framework for improving DEI, as well as a launching pad for discussing and planning DEI initiatives.While 73% of institutions reported that DEI is addressed directly through their mission statements, there is still much work to be done to improve the gaps in student outcomes.